Methods and Systems for Multiplayer Elimination Tournaments

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and systems for on-line multiplayer elimination tournaments. Preferably, a number of client devices join a tournament hosted by a server device. These client devices contend with one another at a game of chance over a series of rounds. At least one client device may be eliminated by each round. After the final round, the client devices remaining share a prize amount.

1 . A system for conducting a multiplayer elimination tournament comprising:
 a given client device;   a least one other client device;   a server device, communicatively coupled to the given client device and to the at least one other client device, arranged to conduct the tournament between the given client device and the at least one other client device, the tournament consisting of a series of intermediate rounds followed by a final round, wherein a number of client devices are eliminated from the tournament by each round, and wherein a prize amount is divided between all client devices remaining after the final round; and   an account, associated with the given client device, that is debited before the given client device joins the tournament, and credited if the given client device is remaining after the final round.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the account is debited before a beginning of the tournament. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 at least one other account, each associated pairwise with one of the at least one other client devices, that is debited before the associated other client device joins the tournament, wherein the account and the at least one other account are each debited by a tournament entry fee, wherein the account is credited by a prize amount, and wherein the prize amount is based on a portion of a sum of all debited tournament entry fees.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the tournament entry fee comprises a first fee that is contributed to the prize amount, and a second fee that is not contributed to the prize amount. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the prize amount is divided equally between all client devices remaining after the final round. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the number of client devices eliminated by each round is fixed. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the fixed number of client devices eliminated each round is based on a number of client devices that enter the tournament. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tournament comprises a contest chosen from the group consisting of poker, blackjack, roulette, and video slot machines. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each round is of a pre-determined duration. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in each respective round, points are awarded to each of the client devices participating in the round based on:
 input from each of the client devices received by the server device during the respective round, and   events randomly generated by the server device during the respective round,   wherein client devices are eliminated by dividing the client devices participating the respective round into a first set of winning client devices and a second set of losing client devices,   wherein each client in the first set was awarded more points than each client in the second set,   wherein the first set consists of the client devices that remain after the respective round, and   wherein the second set consists of the client devices that are eliminated by the respective round.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein, during each respective round, all of the client devices participating in the respective round are divided amongst virtual tables, wherein there are more client devices participating in the respective round than virtual tables. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the client devices that are eliminated by each respective round are those client devices at each virtual table awarded fewer points than a per-round, per-table threshold. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each virtual table has a fixed number of seats, and wherein the client devices eliminated by the respective round are chosen so that (a) a respective subsequent round contains fewer virtual tables than the respective round, and (b) each seat at each virtual table in the respective subsequent round is filled by one client device. 
   
   
       14 . A method, in a server device, for operating a multiplayer elimination tournament, wherein the server device is communicatively coupled to a given client device, wherein the server maintains an account on behalf of the given client device, the method comprising:
 receiving a tournament entry indication from the given client device;   debiting the account of the given client device by a tournament entry fee;   conducting the tournament between the given client device and at least one other client device, the tournament consisting of a series of intermediate rounds followed by a final round, wherein a number of client devices are eliminated from the tournament by each round, and wherein a prize amount is divided between all client devices remaining after the final round;   determining that the given client device is remaining after the final round;   crediting a portion of the prize amount to the account of the given client device; and   transmitting a tournament win indication to the given client device.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 collecting tournament entry fees from each of the at least one other client device, wherein the prize amount is based on the tournament entry fees collected from the given client device and each of the at least one other client device.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the prize amount is divided equally between all client devices remaining after the final round. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tournament entry fee comprises a first fee that is contributed to the prize amount, and a second fee that is not contributed to the prize amount. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the number of client devices eliminated by each intermediate round is fixed. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fixed number of client devices eliminated by each intermediate round is based on a number of client devices that enter the tournament. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein each intermediate round is of a predetermined duration. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tournament comprises a contest chosen from the group consisting of poker, blackjack, roulette, and video slot machines. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein conducting each respective round comprises:
 receiving input from each of the respective client devices;   randomly generating events;   awarding points to each of the respective client devices based on the input received from the respective client device and the randomly generated events; and   dividing the respective client devices into a first set of winning client devices and a second set of losing client devices, wherein each client device in the first set was awarded more points than each client device in the second set, wherein the first set consists of the client devices remaining after the respective round and the second set consists of the client devices eliminated by the respective round.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein conducting each respective round further comprises:
 dividing all of the client devices participating in the respective round amongst virtual tables, wherein there are more client devices participating in the respective round than virtual tables.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 dividing the client devices at each virtual table into a first group of winning client devices and a second group of losing client devices, wherein each client device in the first group was awarded more points than each client device in the second group, and wherein the first group consists of client devices remaining after the respective round and the second group consists of client devices eliminated by the respective round.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein each virtual table has a fixed number of seats, and wherein eliminating client devices in a respective round comprises:
 choosing client devices to eliminate so that (a) a respective subsequent round comprises fewer virtual tables than the respective round, and (b) each seat at each virtual table in the respective subsequent round is filled by one client device.   
   
   
       26 . A server device for operating a multiplayer elimination tournament, wherein the server device is communicatively coupled to a given client device and at least one other client device, the server device comprising:
 a processor;   a memory, storing a representation of an account of the given client device;   machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to receive a tournament entry indication from the given client device;   machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to debit the account of the given client device by a tournament entry fee;   machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to conduct a series of intermediate rounds and a final round of the tournament between the given client device and at least one other client device, wherein a number of client devices are eliminated from the tournament by each round;   machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to divide a prize amount between all client devices remaining after the final round;   machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to determine that the given client device is remaining after the final round;   machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to credit a portion of the prize amount to the account of the given client device; and   machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to transmit a tournament win indication to the given client device.   
   
   
       27 . The server device of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to collect tournament entry fees from each of the at least one other client device, wherein the prize amount is based on the tournament entry fees collected from the given client device and each of the at least one other client device.   
   
   
       28 . The server device of  claim 26 , wherein machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to divide the prize amount comprises:
 machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to divided the prize amount equally between all client devices remaining after the final round.   
   
   
       29 . The server device of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to divide the tournament entry fee into a first fee that is contributed to the prize amount, and a second fee that is not contributed to the prize amount.   
   
   
       30 . The server device of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to eliminate a fixed number of client devices from each round.   
   
   
       31 . The server device of  claim 30 , wherein the fixed number of client devices eliminated is based on a number of client devices that enter the tournament. 
   
   
       32 . The server device of  claim 26 , wherein each round is of a pre-determined duration. 
   
   
       33 . The server device of  claim 26 , wherein the tournament comprises a contest chosen from the group consisting of poker, blackjack, roulette, and video slot machines. 
   
   
       34 . The server device of  claim 26 , wherein the machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to conduct each respective round comprises:
 machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to:
 receive input from each respective client device, 
 randomly generate events, 
 award points to each respective client device based on the input received from the respective client device and the randomly generated events, and 
 divide the first plurality of client devices into a first set of winning client devices and a second set of losing client devices, wherein each client device in the first set was awarded more points than each client device in the second set, and wherein the first set consists of the client devices remaining after the respective round, and wherein the second set consists of the at least one client device eliminated by the respective round. 
   
   
   
       35 . The server device of  claim 34 , wherein the machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to conduct each respective round comprises:
 machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to divide all client devices participating in the respective round amongst virtual tables, wherein there are more client devices participating in the respective round than virtual tables.   
   
   
       36 . The server device of  claim 35 , wherein the client devices eliminated by each respective round are, amongst the client devices at each virtual table participating in the respective round, those awarded fewer points than a per-round, per-table threshold. 
   
   
       37 . The server device of  claim 35 , wherein each virtual table has a fixed number of seats, and wherein machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to eliminate a group of client devices comprises:
 machine executable instructions, stored in the memory and executable by the processor, to choose client devices to eliminate so that (a) a respective subsequent round comprises fewer virtual tables than the respective intermediate round, and (b) each seat at each virtual table in the respective subsequent round is filled by one client device.   
   
   
       38 . A method, in a server device, for conducting a round of a multiplayer elimination tournament between a first plurality of client devices, wherein the server device is communicatively coupled to the first plurality of client devices, the method comprising:
 receiving input from each of the client devices in the first plurality;   randomly generating events according to rules associated with the tournament;   determining, based on the received input from each of the client devices in the first plurality and the randomly generated events, at least one client device in the first plurality to remove from the tournament;   removing the determined at least one client device from the tournament;   establishing a second plurality of client devices consisting of client devices of the first plurality that remain in the tournament;   transmitting output indicating elimination to each of the at least one client device;   testing for the condition that the round is a final round of the tournament;   if the condition is not met, conducting a subsequent round of the tournament with the second plurality of client devices; and   if the condition is met, transmitting a tournament win indication each of the second plurality of client devices.   
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the server device maintains accounts for each client device of the second plurality, the method further comprising:
 crediting the accounts of each of the client devices in the second plurality.   
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the server device maintains a prize amount collected before the beginning of the tournament, and wherein the accounts of each of the client devices in the second plurality are credited by a portion of the prize amount. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the received input from each of the client devices and the randomly generated events conform to a game of chance. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 awarding points to each client device in the first plurality based on the input from each client device in the first plurality and the randomly generated events.   
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein determining at least one client device to remove from the tournament comprises:
 dividing the first plurality of client devices into a first set of winning client devices and a second set of losing client devices, wherein each client in the first set was awarded more points than each client in the second set, and wherein the first set consists of the second plurality of client devices, and wherein the second set consists of the at least one client device to remove from the tournament.   
   
   
       44 . A machine readable medium for use in conducting a multiplayer elimination tournament via a computing device, the medium containing program instructions executable by the computing device for executing:
 a process for receiving a tournament entry indication from a client device;   a process for debiting an account associated with the client device by a tournament fee;   a process for conducting a series of intermediate rounds and then a final round of the tournament between the client device and at least one other client device, wherein, during each round:
 the computing device receives input from all client devices remaining in the tournament, 
 the computing device randomly generates events according to a game of chance, 
 based on the input and the events, the computing device assigns all client devices to one of a first set and a second set, wherein the first set of devices are to remain in the tournament, and the second set of devices are to be eliminated from the tournament, and 
 eliminating the second set of client devices from the tournament; 
   a process for determining, after the final round, that the client device remains in the tournament; and   a process for crediting the account of the client device a portion of a prize amount, wherein the prize amount is based on tournament entry fees collected from all client devices that participated in the tournament.